Name: _____________________
Florida Preparatory Academy
Student/Parent Handbook
2017/2018
Table of Contents
Introduction
Message from the Dean ……….4
About This Handbook ……….5
History of the Academy ……….6
Chapter 1- Florida Prep Philosophy and Objectives
Vision ……….7
Mission of Florida Prep ……….7
A Florida Prep Student……..8
Honor Code ……….8
Liability Statement ………..9
National Association of Independent School’s Principles of Good Practice ……….9
Parents Working with Schools ……….10
Schools working with Parents ……….10
21st Century Skills & Values Program ……….11
Chapter 2- Schedules
High School Schedule ……….12
Middle School Schedule ……….14
Weekend Schedule ……….16
Chapter 3- Academic Policies
Attendance Policy ……….17
Classroom Guidelines ……….18
Academic Suspensions ……….18
Evening Study Hall Guidelines ……….18
Grading Scale & Grade Points ……….19
Academic Distinctions ……….19
Honors & AP Course Guidelines ……….19
Academic Assistance ……….20
Counselling & Guidance ……….20
Teacher Help Sessions ……….21
Tutoring ……….21
Late Return from School Events ……….22
Chapter 4- Operations Office - Student Life & Residential Life
Residential Students
Travel ……….23
Airport Pick Up ……….23
Airport Drop Off …………24
Unaccompanied Minors …………24
Florida Shuttles (Weekend Home Leaves) ……….24
Life in the Dormitories ……….25
Student Rooms ……….25
Safety & Security (Fire & other Emergencies) ……….26
Inspections ……….27
Town Leave Boundaries ……….29
Local Businesses Accessible by Foot ……….31
Map of Taxi Boundaries ……….32
Map of Walking Boundaries ……….32
Campus Boundaries ……….33
Running Circuit ……….33
Home Leave ……….34
Room Set Up for Departure ……….35
Visitors ……….35
Weekend Life ……….36
Food Ordering ……….36
All Students
Academic Dress Code ……….37
PE Dress Code ……….37
Off Campus Dress Code ……….39
Personal Hygiene & Grooming ……….39
Non - Dress Code Attire ……….40
Automobiles & “Other” Motorized Structures made for Self Transportation ………. 41
Lost & Found ……….42
Hall of Flags Etiquette ……….43
Leadership Skills & Values Program …………43
Chapter 5- Student Services
Campus Store & Canteen ……….44
Dining Hall ……….44
Identification Badges ……….44
Wellness Center ……….45
Laundry ……….46
Library ……….47
Mail & Packages ……….47
Computer, Internet & Electronic Mail Acceptable Use Policy ……….47
Cell Phone Policy ……….49
Personal Spending Money ……….50
Middle School Boarding Students ……….51
Chapter 6 - Special Achievements and Recognition
President’s List ……….52
Student of the Month ……….52
Founder’s Club Award ……….52
Admissions Student Ambassador Program……..53
Chapter 7 - Citizenship & Conduct
Standards ……….55
General Behavior ……….56
Hazing, Bullying & Harassment ……….56
Conduct While on Academy Vehicles ……….56
Academic Cheating Protocol ……….57
Penalties for Offences ……….57
More Serious Infractions ……….59
Definitions ……….61
Appendix: Student Handbook Knowledge of Receipt ………. 70
Letter from Mr. Gideon
Dear Falcons,
Welcome to Florida Preparatory Academy. Here at Florida Prep we strive to give every student the opportunity to develop into positive young adults and dedicated high achieving students. This can only be accomplished when everyone works together. As a former Dean of Students once said, there are three relationships that must be nurtured and maintained in order for this to happen: The Parent, The School and The Student. If at any time any one of these relationships is not working with the other, none can be successful. This Handbook is your part of that deal.
This is a living document and changes and grows with The Academy and our students. All departments have worked together to provide a document we believe will prove a useful tool in a student’s journey to success. Having clear expectations and regulations that foster a healthy and structured environment for all helps to minimize distractions, allowing students to be free to focus on their individual growth and academic goals.
I have been with the Academy for 10 years and involved in education for over 15, and I firmly believe that the family that exist at Florida Prep can serve as the support that any willing student needs to achieve whatever goals they can dream of. I have seen it happen for others, and I look forward to seeing it happen for all of our current students as well.
Please take the time to thoroughly review this Handbook. If you have questions about any items, please do not hesitate to ask me or any member of our staff.
I hope all of our students have an enjoyable and productive year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Gideon
Introduction
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ABOUT THIS HANDBOOK
__________________________________________________________________
Like most communities, Florida Prep must ensure a balance between individual freedom and group welfare. The expectations described herein attempt to protect the individual’s right to grow in an atmosphere that also protects the privacy, rights, and property of everyone.
No attempt is made to cover every detail of conduct or procedure. Using this guide as a reference will provide students with information they need to be successful and responsible citizens of the Florida Prep community. Ignorance of the rules and expectations outlined in this Handbook do not constitute an acceptable excuse for inappropriate behavior or failure to adhere to rules and expectations.
NOTE: All students must download and possess a digital copy of the most current Student Handbook and are expected to review it on a regular basis and be knowledgeable of its contents.
History of the Academy
Over 80 years ago, Ernest Kouwen-Hoven erected the first building on what is now the Florida Preparatory Academy campus. It was a magnificent Spanish Mediterranean-style mansion, complete with authentic Art Deco interior. He used the mansion as his home for only one year, before selling it in 1926 to A.S. Widrig, who added extra rooms to it and re-named the property "The Lincoln Hotel." In 1957, The Lincoln Hotel was sold to August J. Rimer, the original owner of the Green Bay Packers. He re-named the hotel "The Belcelona." Mr. Rimer sold The Belcelona Hotel in 1961 to Jonathan Dwight, an educator and aviation enthusiast from New Jersey. Several months later, with his wife Emmy Dwight, he founded Florida Air Academy, a military-style college preparatory school for young men.
Today, the school is run by Jonathan and Emmy Dwight's children, with son James Dwight in his 27th year as the 4th President of the school. In 2004 their grandson, Kyle Dwight Powers, was the first of their grandchildren to graduate from the Academy. In 2013 daughter of Deborah Dwight, Caroline Kingsbury, graduated. The fact that Florida Prep has been a family-run school for all of its 56 years creates a unique atmosphere that pervades all aspects of school life. Many of the faculty and staff have their children attend Florida Prep, and some live on campus with their children to help give more of a “family atmosphere.” Florida Prep has the largest collection of historic buildings in Brevard County.
In the fall of 2005, Florida Air Academy began accepting female students in both boarding and day capacities. The girls have made an excellent contribution to the school and have raised the bar academically. There have been five female valedictorians since the school became co-educational. In 2011 the Academy celebrated its 50th Anniversary year!
In May of 2015, Florida Air Academy celebrated its last graduating class before making its transition to Florida Preparatory Academy. May 13th of 2016 Florida Prep held its first graduation donning caps & gowns.
Chapter 1
Florida Prep Philosophy and Objectives
The Vision of Florida Preparatory Academy
Developing leaders for the 21st century.
The Mission of Florida Preparatory Academy
To emphasize mutual respect and personal responsibility in order to focus on student success within our college preparatory tradition.
At Florida Prep, we believe:
■ Student learning is the chief priority for the school.
■ In teaching and exemplifying cooperation, integrity, honesty, ambition, charity, courtesy, respect, and responsibility.
■ A commitment to continuous improvement is imperative for our school to enable students to become confident, self-directed, lifelong learners.
■ In working to instill a sense of integrity and self-worth in each student.
■ In teaching better study habits, organizational skills and social skills, and in the importance of good grades and proper behavior.
■ Students learn responsibility by making their own decisions and realizing that they must live with the consequences.
■ In preparing students for life by helping them develop character and become good citizens.
■ Students learn best when they are actively engaged.
■ Positive relationships and mutual respect among and between students, faculty, and staff enhance a student's self-esteem.
■ Students should demonstrate their understanding of essential knowledge and skills, but also be actively involved in solving problems and producing quality work.
■ Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs.
■ All students are members of the Florida Prep family. Students, faculty, and staff shall strive as a team to realize our vision of developing 21st Century skills and values, leadership, school pride, and helping every student adjust to life at Florida Prep.
A florida Prep Student...
Is polite, courteous and respectful to others at all times.
Is willing to add to the school community by being helpful, cooperative and thoughtful.
Always has a positive attitude when it pertains to classmates and adults
Continually does his or her very best both in and out of the classroom.
Maintains high personal standards and goals.
Continually represents self, family and the Academy in the best possible way.
Honor Code
The Student Body operates on the basis of an Honor Code. The foundation upon which the Honor Code rests is integrity and trust. There are three violations of the Honor Code, described below.
1. LYING, including intent to deceive, covers all statements made in an official capacity, when the statement pertains to academic work, discipline, or in any other honor situation.
2. CHEATING includes plagiarism and receipt of unauthorized aid on any written work that a student submits as his/her own. Any student who – without authorization - gives information to or receives information from another student or other sources, such as the internet, concerning homework, a test, quiz, or examination is guilty of an Honor Code violation.
3. STEALING includes the taking of personal, private, governmental, and/or institutional property without the consent of the owner of the property. This includes, but is not limited to, shoplifting, unauthorized use of cell phones, and obtaining money under false pretenses. Stealing includes extortion by using one's influence or coercion to borrow money or other property.
4. For students who accept leadership responsibilities, there is a fourth tenet: Failure to report violations of the above offenses, as well as suspicious or irregular circumstance.
Florida Preparatory Academy regards direct violation of its rules as serious, and will adhere to its longstanding practice of investigating the situation and meting out consequences in a fair, firm, and consistent manner.
Liability Statement
Florida Prep cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage to any student’s personal belongings including, but not limited to: cell phones, jewelry, watches, televisions, stereos, computers, and clothing. It is a student’s responsibility to immediately report to their dormitory supervisor or another Florida Prep adult any theft they experience. Failure to do so, or delay in doing so, severely limits the possibility of assisting in any recovery effort.
Florida Prep cannot be responsible for the loss or misuse of any money including credit cards, personal checks, or phone cards, nor will Florida Prep act as a collection agency upon misuse or loss of these items. Students are limited to $25 cash on hand.
In order to maintain a drug-free environment, you are subject to drug testing, either upon reasonable suspicion that drug usage has occurred, or at our discretion. This consent shall remain in full force and effective during all periods of time you are enrolled or in residence at Florida Prep. Florida Prep reserves the right to have drug-sniffing dogs at any undisclosed time on campus in order to further maintain a drug-free environment. The cost of the above said tests will be the responsibility of your parent/guardian.
Florida Prep reserves the right to search your person, belongings, or vehicle at any time to determine compliance with Florida Preps Standards of Conduct.
Florida Prep reserves the right to administer a polygraph test to determine the innocence or guilt of any student suspected of a serious infraction of the Standards of Conduct or other rules and regulations. The cost of the polygraph test will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
National association of independent schools’ principles of good practice
overview: Parents and independent schools work together to create and sustain effective partnerships. The following principles of good practice describe the respective roles and responsibilities of both partners.
parents working with schools
1. Parents recognize that effective partnerships are characterized by clearly defined responsibilities, a shared commitment to collaboration, open lines of communication, mutual respect, and a common vision of the goals to be reached.
2. In selecting an independent school, parents seek an optimal match for the needs of the student, their own expectations, and the philosophy and programs of the school.
3. Parents are familiar with and support the school's policies and procedures.
4. Parents provide a home environment that supports the development of positive learning attitudes and habits.
5. Parents involve themselves in the life of the school.
6. Parents seek and value the school's perspective on the student.
7. When concerns arise, parents seek information directly from the school, consulting with those best able to address the concerns.
8. Parents share with the school any religious, cultural, medical, or personal information that the school may need to serve the student best.
schools working with parents
1. The school recognizes that effective partnerships are characterized by clearly defined responsibilities, a shared commitment to collaboration, open lines of communication, mutual respect, and a common vision of the goals to be reached.
2. The school clearly and fully presents its philosophy, program, and practices to parents during the admission process and encourages dialogue that clarifies parental expectations and aspirations for the student.
3. The school seeks and values the parents' perspective on the student.
4. Teachers and administrators are accessible to parents and model candid and open dialogue.
5. The school keeps parents well informed through systematic reports, conferences, publications, and informal conversations.
6. The school defines clearly how it involves parents when considering major decisions that affect the school community.